Game 2 Preview: Hitmen at Oil Kings

One night after the Calgary Hitmen and Edmonton Oil Kings needed overtime to determine a winner what will they do for an encore?  Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Final goes tonight at Rexall Place with the Hitmen leading the best-of seven series 1-0 after that 3-2 victory in the opener.

It's an internet broadcast only on Sportsnet 960 The Fan beginning at 7pm. You can listen here: http://player.rogersradio.ca/cfac-alt/on_air

There's no question tonight's game is just as big for Calgary. Coming into a series the mindset of every team starting on the road is to earn a split but the Hitmen now have a chance to take both games at Rexall Place before the series shifts back to Scotiabank Saddledome for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The Hitmen held an optional skate this morning while none of the Oil Kings took to the ice.

                                                    Photo Credit:  Andy Devlin

PLAYOFF TRENDS:  After opening the scoring last night in Edmonton the Hitmen have now scored the games first goal in 10 of their 11 playoff games....All five Hitmen road games in the 2013 post season have gone to overtime.

DIVERSE ATTACK:  Calgary's last 12 goals have been scored by 11 different players (Jones 2, Brassart, Rask, Peterson, Humphries, Brooks, Chase, Sylvester, Macek, Virtanen, Kosterman).

STREAKIN': Dating back to the regular season Victor Rask is riding a 17 game point streak (7g 17a 24pts).  Brooks Macek (1g 4a) has points in five straight playoff games.  Zane Jones (2g 2a) and Spencer Humphries (1g 2a) are both on three game point streaks.  Chris Driedger has given up two goals or less in eight straight games.

OVERTIME TRACKER:  Even though the Hitmen have been to overtime a franchise record six times this post season they've only played a combined 28 minutes of extra time.

LEADER OF THE PACK:  Brooks Macek tops all Hitmen with 32 career playoffs points (12g 20a) in 48 games.  He had an assist in Game 1 last night.

ROAD SUCCESS:  Including the regular season Calgary is now 4-0 at Rexall Place in Edmonton this season.

FRANCHISE PLAYOFF RECORD: Not including their two trips to the MasterCard Memorial Cup, Calgary has a lifetime playoff record of 118-80. The Hitmen have competed in 36 series prior to this one and have won 24 and lost 12. Calgary is 22-16 in post season overtime games.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:  Hitmen defenceman Alex Roach celebrates his 20th birthday today. 

TOP PLAYOFF SCORERS:
Calgary
Victor Rask 5g 9a 14pts
Cody Sylvester 4g 5a 9pts
Brooks Macek 2g 7a 9pts
Brady Brassart 7g 0a 7pts
Greg Chase 2g 5a 7pts

Edmonton
Michael St. Croix 6g 7a 13pts
Stephane Legault 5g 8a 13pts
Henrik Samuelsson 7g 5a 12pts
Trevor Cheek 6g 5a 11pts